Power-Infused Fried Chicken
Chapter 2. The Hero Working Part-Time
I coated the pre-marinated Brazilian boneless chicken pieces with batter and dropped them into the fryer. Once the temperature was right and the timer went off, I pulled them out and let the oil drain. The golden, perfectly fried chicken went onto a plate, which I handed to Baek Jina as she worked the floor. It had been ten years since I'd last fried chicken, but my body still remembered the motions. A few small mistakes happened along the way, yet the manager noona paid me no attention whatsoever, and Baek Jina was too busy running around the dining area to notice anything odd.
Once I got used to the rhythm, hunger started creeping in. I haven't eaten anything since returning from the other world. After coming back to reality, I'd even done intense exercise for the first time in my life. It would've been stranger if I wasn't hungry.
Why not fry a few extra pieces for yourself?
Good idea.
At Seria's suggestion, I pulled out more boneless pieces and fried them together with the rest. The moment I bit into a freshly fried chunk, the crisp texture hit me. Still, no matter how well it was fried, cheap Brazilian chicken remained dry and tough at its core. Sauce helped, but it couldn't fix the fundamental dryness of the meat.
Should I try Power Infusion?
The skill that temporarily imbued objects or ingredients with Sex Power. When used on cooking ingredients, it transformed them into something far superior—like a divine seasoning. The downside is you never know exactly how it'll change. I knew it would taste better, just not in what way. Still, anything had to be an improvement over what I was eating now. I decided to give it a shot.
After infusing the boneless pieces with Sex Power, I fried them the same way as before. On the outside, they looked no different from the regular batch. I picked one up and took a bite.
Oh. This is actually good.
The once-dry Brazilian chicken now melted in my mouth like premium marbled beef. The combination of crispy batter and tender meat felt almost like cheating. If I can't find a job, maybe I should just open a chicken shop. At least it wouldn't go under.
As I reached for another piece, Baek Jina—who had somehow appeared right in front of me—stood holding an empty tray and staring at me.
"Oppa, what are you eating so deliciously?"
"Chicken. Want some?"
"Ah, chicken is a bit… Do you have anything else?"
Two months ago, when she first started working here, she'd been thrilled at the idea of eating as much free chicken as she wanted. Now, even the smell of oil made her grimace.
"Just try one. It's different from what you've had before."
"Hmm, really?"
She thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Aaaah~"
With both hands full of trays, she opened her mouth like a baby bird waiting to be fed. I dropped a small piece inside.
"Careful, it's hot."
She bit down without much expectation—then her round eyes widened and sparkled. Chewing with a blissful expression like she'd just inherited the world, she swallowed.
"Pretty good, right?"
"Is there more?!"
Coming from someone who usually recoiled at the smell of oil, that was the highest praise possible.
"Won't eating greasy food at night make you gain weight?"
"It's fine. I don't gain weight."
She really did stay slim despite eating whatever she wanted—except for one particular area.
"…Does it go somewhere else?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Just a second."
I fed her another piece I'd set aside for myself. The crisp sound and tender meat melting in her mouth made her smile happily again.
"It's so delicious! How did you make this?"
"I picked up a few cooking skills."
Technically it wasn't a cooking skill, but when applied to food, it might as well be. Baek Jina seemed to assume I'd just practiced cooking and didn't press further—mostly because all her attention was focused on eating.
Every time I fed her a piece, she smiled in pure happiness. As the chicken dwindled, her expression turned sulky.
"Can you make this again next time?"
"Just tell me whenever you want some. Frying a few extra pieces is no trouble."
It wasn't my money, and the part-timers were allowed to eat as much as they wanted anyway. Plus, this was my last week on the job.
My promise lit up her face.
"Really?! Oppa, I love you!"
She probably loved the chicken more than me, but hearing a cute girl say she loved me still felt nice.
"What's this? Are you two dating?"
The manager noona, who had been quietly scrolling on her phone, walked over. Normally she treated me less like a person and more like a living fryer, never engaging in personal conversation. But the mention of romance seemed to pique her interest.
"Noona, you should try some too. It's really good."
"You two still think chicken tastes good?"
After working at a chicken shop long enough, even free chicken lost its appeal. Once she realized it wasn't about dating but about chicken, she started to look back at her phone—until Baek Jina persistently offered her a piece. Reluctantly, the manager accepted one, looking as unenthusiastic as if she'd been handed a raw potato.
"How good can fried chicken really be… Oh?"
The moment she experienced the perfect crispy-outside, juicy-inside texture, her eyes widened in shock.
"What the—? How did you make this?"
Having fried chicken herself before, she knew regular methods could never produce this result. Unlike Baek Jina's casual question, hers carried the clear intent to extract the secret no matter what.
"I just put my heart into it."
She narrowed her eyes like a fox, clearly thinking I was dodging the question. In the past, I would've blushed and looked away the instant our eyes met. But not anymore. When she stared at me, I stared right back. Eventually she gave up and looked away.
"We're closing soon. Can you make one more after we finish?"
"The owner wouldn't like that."
"It's just employees eating. What's the big deal? I'll take responsibility."
I nodded. After finishing the customer orders, I started frying the batch for us. Before long, the manager noona came over.
"Mind if I watch from the side?"
She looked ready to watch whether I allowed it or not.
"Go ahead."
Once I agreed, she stepped right beside me. Her chest brushed against my arm—close enough to feel but not quite touching. I flinched. Noticing my reaction, she spoke casually.
"Uncomfortable?"
"No."
Her figure wasn't overly voluptuous, but the important parts were definitely there. Pretending it was nothing, she kept subtly pressing against me. Just moments ago she'd acted like I didn't exist—now she was practically flirting. I knew exactly why. I wasn't the naive guy I used to be.
She probably just wants the chicken recipe.
Ordinary fried chicken couldn't taste like this, so she must've assumed I had some secret technique. Like a villain trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula, she watched my every move with intense focus.
"Are you even frying it properly?"
Before frying, I'd already infused the marinated pieces with Sex Power. No matter how hard she stared, she wouldn't see or sense anything. Without Sex Power herself, it was pointless.
"I'm frying it exactly right."
No matter how closely she looked, the process matched the store manual perfectly—except for the invisible infusion step. She clicked her tongue in frustration. Soon the chicken came out golden and perfectly fried, plated and ready. Yet the manager noona's expression remained unconvinced.
"Try one."
She took a bite with skeptical eyes. The doubt vanished instantly.
"What the…?"
She'd fried it the exact same way she always did, yet the taste was on another level. Question marks filled her mind.
"Jina, come eat too."
"Wow, thanks, Oppa!"
When Baek Jina came running over, the manager noona swallowed whatever she'd been about to say and quietly focused on eating. She hadn't given up—she was just waiting for the next opportunity.
Once the chicken was on the table, both women attacked it like they hadn't eaten in days. I picked up a piece for myself, but just as I was about to eat—
"Hey, you little shit! What the hell are you eating during work hours?!"
The foul-mouthed owner had returned.